Bethpage Black & TPC Sawgrass Trip

In the coming weeks I will be making my way from Albuquerque, NM to New York to play Bethpage Black. Thereafter, I will be heading down south to Florida to Tee it up at Sawgrass. Has anyone ever played either? thoughts? I know both are some of the most difficult courses in the country. I am currently a 2 handicap and am very anxious to play. Any thoughts? Hidden halfway houses? Things I should know about?

Tyler H

Bethpage Black will chew you up and spit you out. The best piece of advice I can offer is that you want to avoid the rough as it is quite lush. Tee shots placed in the fairway will set you up for success.

No'l

Speedy

I've only played Bethpage Black and it's easily one of my top 3 courses even though it's kicked my a** multiple times. I've played it twice and enjoyed every minute of it and IMO the best money you'll ever spend on a course like that. Are you doing the full experience and sleeping over in the parking lot or getting a tee time online? As for the course it's everything and more. Truly a beautiful course and a fun walk. Only advice I'll give you is stay outta the rough, it's nasty. If you end up in there, lay up and don't be a hero. Also bring some water and snacks. I think there's only one snack house after the 5th or 6th hole and that's it.

Never played Sawgrass but i'm sure you'll get some reviews on that. Enjoy Bethpage!!!

Chuck Z

We played the TPC @ Sawgrass last fall for the Team Titleist Invitational and it was a blast. A long time friend who use to live down there and was a member told me to always aim for the middle of the green on 17 at the Players course. He also was a low handicap golfer. We played both courses, Dye Valley and the Players Course and rode carts on both courses but had a caddie in each group. They were most helpful. Play tees that you are comfortable with and have fun.

Andrew K

My wife and I played TPC Sawgrass for my 40th. I wish that I would have putted better. I hit a lot of 3 woods off the tee, I chipped with my 52 (8* bounce) not my 56 (14* bounce) as the Bermuda grass tends to bite the club on tight lies. The caddies there were great. We played both courses there and it was nice to warm up at the Valley Course first.

While you are there head down the road and see the World Golf Hall of Fame. Enjoy your trip!

Hotsauce

Bethpage is the hardest track I've ever played (topping Kiawah, Torrey Pines South, Whistling, Erin Hills and Pinehurst No.2). Like Higgs said, keep it in the fairway. We spent more time looking for balls less than a yard off the fairway than I'd care to admit. Assuming you find your ball in the rough, you better have forearms like Popeye if you want to hit anything more than 70 yards. Full disclosure- We had more than a few oat sodas and slept in the parking lot the night before - adding to the difficulty. The walk was world class, and I'd love to play it again with a better nights sleep and less of a headache.

Sawgrass is fun, but IMO, really only has 10 holes of great golf. Holes 1-8 could be any course in Florida. Obviously 16-18 are a treat, and the clubhouse is something to behold. I didn't find it overly difficult, but I also had a solid fourcadddy who showed me the way.

As a 2 you should be fine on both courses. There's holes you can score on, but you definitely have to take your medicine if you hit one offline.
Sawgrass was a lot of 3 woods and hybrids off the tee. (maybe I should have done the same at Bethpage). The course was fairly straightforward and kinda target golf. Bethpage was a brute - fun, but brutal all at the same time.